YOUNG LAWYER - Anne Graham Bibeau

Title: AttorneyLegal specialties: Labor and employment, litigation, tax controversy
Birthplace: “Newport, R.I., but when I was a few months old we returned to Virginia Beach, where my family is from and where I lived until college.” Education: Bachelor’s and law degrees, College of William & MaryCurrent professional activities: Society for Human Resource Management, Hampton Roads Chapter; Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association; Virginia Women Attorneys AssociationFamily: Husband, Paul; sons, William, 5, and Thomas, 3Hobbies: “Whatever my boys are into. Right now, it’s pirates and monster trucks.”
Previous employer: U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division (2002-07); U.S. Postal Service, Law Department (1997-2002)Fan of: “A good cup of coffee”Favorite vacation spot: Walt Disney WorldRecently read: “The Wreck of the Medusa” by Jonathan Miles

How did you decide to become a lawyer?
“No grandiose ideals. It was a good fit for the strengths I had developed in college: persuasive and analytical writing, research and argument.”

What advice would you give to lawyers who are starting their careers?
“If you’re having trouble finding work in the private sector now due to the economy, try the federal government. You gain a tremendous amount of experience within a few years. At DOJ, for example, new lawyers are routinely given their own cases on their first day and handle complicated cases with little oversight. When the economy improves, you’ll find that you’ve done far more than your peers and have a lot to offer private-sector employers.”